150. "And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite" (Beresheet 38:2). HE ASKS, Was he Canaanite? DID NOT THE FATHERS AVOID MARRYING AMONG THE CANAANITES? HE REPLIES, It has been explained by the friends THAT THE WORD CANAANITE MEANS 'MERCHANT.' "And she conceived, and bore a son, and he called his name Er" (Ibid. 3). Judah had three sons, but only one, Shelah, remained. THE MEANING OF "JUDAH WENT DOWN," IS THAT HE BEGOT SONS AND BURIED THEN, WHICH IS A DESCENT AND PUNISHMENT.

151. Rabbi Elazar, Rabbi Yosi, and Rabbi Chiya were walking along the road. Rabbi Yosi asks Rabbi Elazar: Why is it written in relation to Judah's firstborn, "And he called his name Er," USING THE MALE PRONOUN, and of the other two sons, "she called his name Onan," and "she called his name Shelah," USING THE FEMALE PRONOUN?

152. He said to him: Come and behold. This portion contains a profound secret, and all is proper. "Judah went down from his brothers" because the moon, THE NUKVA, became obscure and descended from the upright grade to another grade to which the serpent is attached. It is written, "And turned into a certain Adullamite, whose name was Chirah."

153. "And she conceived, and bore a son; and he called his name Er (Ayin Resh)" (Beresheet 38:3). He was evil (Heb. Resh Ayin) - which amounts to the same thing, FOR 'EVIL' AND ER ARE SPELLED WITH THE SAME HEBREW LETTERS. Because he came from the side of the Evil Inclination, it is written, "And he called (Heb. et) his name Er." The particle Et adds yet another grade of filth of defilement, from which he was born. This is why Er and Ra ('evil') are identical, NAMELY, SPELLED WITH THE SAME HEBREW LETTERS!

154. With the second son, the place was not yet mitigated AND RETURNED TO HOLINESS. That happened only when Shelah, who was the most important of them all, came. It is written, "And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Hashem" (Beresheet 38:7), and "for the inclination of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Beresheet 8:21). THERE IT MEANS 'SPILLING SEMEN IN VAIN;' THUS, HERE IT MEANS HE WAS SPILLING blood, for he spilt semen on the ground. That is why "Hashem slew him" (Ibid.). Then, "Judah said to Onan, 'Go in to your brother's wife...'"